U.S. patent number 4,316,609 [Application Number 06/012,487] was granted by the patent office on 1982-02-23 for bench mounted weight lifting exerciser.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Diversified Products Corporation. Invention is credited to Ira J. Silberman.
United States Patent |
4,316,609 |
Silberman |
February 23, 1982 |
Bench mounted weight lifting exerciser
Abstract
A simple and versatile exercising apparatus is provided which
enables the user to perform a wide variety of weight training
exercises. The apparatus includes a basic bench with barbell
cradle, a rope and pulley weight pull device, a lat bar device with
squat rack and chinning bar, and readily attachable devices for
performing curling, sit-ups and leg lifts.
Inventors: |
Silberman; Ira J. (Opelika,
AL) |
Assignee: |
Diversified Products
Corporation (Opelika, AL)
|
Family
ID: |
21755205 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/012,487 |
Filed: |
February 15, 1979 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/102; 482/106;
482/133; 482/145; 482/94 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
21/4031 (20151001); A63B 23/00 (20130101); A63B
21/154 (20130101); A63B 21/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
23/00 (20060101); A63B 21/00 (20060101); A63B
21/06 (20060101); A63B 021/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/117,118,144,143,93,123 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Best Products Merchandise Catalogue Cover Page, Sep. 1977, pp. 364
& 365. .
J. C. Penney Catalogue for Fall and Winter 1977, p. 733..
|
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Browne; William R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schuyler, Banner, Birch, McKie
& Beckett
Claims
I claim:
1. An exercising apparatus comprising:
(a) a bench having:
(1) an elongated bench frame;
(2) a fixed seat portion supported on said bench frame at the foot
end of said bench;
(3) an adjustable incline seat portion hinged to said bench frame
adjacent to said fixed portion and extending to the head end of
said bench;
(4) means for adjustably supporting said incline portion on said
bench frame at a desired angle of inclination; and
(5) a pair of upstanding, spaced barbell supports on opposite sides
of said bench attached to said bench frame, each of said tubes
having a barbell cradle at its upper end above said incline seat
portion; and
(b) a weight pull device at the head end of said bench attached to
and supported by said bench frame having:
(1) a pair of upstanding parallel guides attached to said bench
frame;
(2) a top crosspiece interconnecting the upper ends of said
guides;
(3) weight-supporting means slidably guided along said guides;
(4) weight pulley means connected to said top crosspiece; and
(5) at least one tension element connected to said
weight-supporting means and trained through said pulley means to be
pulled by a user lying or sitting on said bench.
2. An exercising apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of
said guides of said weight pull device is connected to one of said
barbell supports by a brace.
3. An exercising apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said bench
frame includes a laterally extending stabilizing frame, said guides
having longitudinally directed bottom portions connected to said
stabilizing frame.
4. An exercising apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each of
said braces extends from the upper portion of said guide obliquely
downwardly to the upper portion of said barbell support.
5. An exercising apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said
weight-supporting means comprises a generally U-shaped cradle
disposed between said guides, a U-shaped channel member connected
to each leg of said cradle, the sides of each of said channel
members flanking one of said guides, and a central upstanding
weight rod secured to the center of said cradle for receiving
apertured weights, said tension element being connected to the top
of said weight rod.
6. An exercising apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said weight
pulley means comprises a pair of central weight pulleys mounted
centrally of said top crosspiece above said weight rod, and an
outer pulley mounted near each end of said top crosspiece, said at
least one tension element comprising a pair of ropes connected to
said weight bar, each trained through one of said central pulleys
and one of said outer pulleys, and connected to a handle for
engagement by the user.
7. An exercising apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the ends of
said top crosspiece project laterally beyond said guides and
forwardly thereof in the direction of said bench, said outer
pulleys being mounted near the projecting ends of said top
crosspiece so that the straight-line paths of said ropes between
said central weight pulleys and said outer pulleys are unobstructed
by said guides.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to exercising devices for developing
and conditioning various parts of the body.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The importance of regular exercise for building and maintaining
strength and endurance cannot be overemphasized. The modern
conveniences which we enjoy and the sedentary tasks which we
increasingly perform have given us a comfortable lifestyle at the
expense of physical fitness. Highly active exercise programs, such
as running, develop endurance of the cardiovascular system.
Muscular strength and endurance is best developed through weight
training.
The simplest and least expensive apparatus for weight training is
the barbell with removable weights. However, the use of a barbell
alone cannot develop all areas of the body. Hence, additional
apparatus must be employed for a comprehensive conditioning
program. Devices developed for this purpose generally provide the
user with a force resistor against which muscular effort must be
applied. Resistance is typically provided by means of a weight and
pulley arrangement, or an elastic element. These devices permit the
force to be applied to the user's body from many different
directions in order to develop substantially all areas of the
body.
Few of these weight training devices, however, can provide the user
with substantially all of the exercising variants required to
develop the entire body. Those that do are generally large, complex
and costly machines which cannot be used with a common barbell set
and consequently are not suitable for home use. These are usually
found only at health clubs and other athletic establishments. More
specialized devices for developing limited areas of the body are
available, but a number of different devices of this type must be
used in order to provide a complete range of exercises.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to obviate
the above-noted disadvantages of the prior art by providing a
simple and inexpensive exercising apparatus for performing a
complete range of weight training exercises.
Another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus
which is self-supporting yet strong, stable and relatively
compact.
Another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus
having some components which may be used independently of or
interchangeably with others.
Another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus
which is used in conjunction with a simple and inexpensive barbell
set for providing the desired exercises.
Another object of the invention is to provide a single
multi-purpose exercise device which can be purchased in modular
components at various periods of time rather than requiring the
single purchase of a total unit.
Another object of the invention is to provide such an exercise
device which is designed to be assembled by the consumer and
shipped in separate cartons of manageable size.
Another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus
having adjustable components which may be adjusted to suit the
needs of various users.
These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished
by providing an exercising apparatus comprising a bench having an
elongated bench frame, a fixed seat portion supported on the bench
frame at the foot end of the bench, an adjustable incline seat
portion hinged adjacent to the fixed portion and extending to the
head end of the bench, and means for adjustably supporting the
incline portion on the bench frame at a desired angle of
inclination; and a weight pull device at the head end of the bench
having a pair of upstanding parallel guides attached to the bench
frame, a top crosspiece interconnecting the upper ends of the
guides, weight supporting means slidably guided along the guides,
weight pulley means connected to the top crosspiece and at least
one tension element connected to the weight supporting means and
trained through the pulley means to be pulled by a user lying or
sitting on the bench.
The bench may also be provided with a barbell rest cradle supported
at the top of barbell rest tubes attached to the bench frame. This
arrangement permits the user to perform bench pressing type
exercises while lying on the bench. In addition, the bench frame
may be provided at its foot end with means for attaching and
supporting other exercise equipment, such as an upper
arm-supporting barbell curling board, a leg lift device employing
barbell weights, or an inclined slant board sit-up device. A weight
pull device incorporating a tension element may be attached to the
head end of the bench, and a lat bar device may also be provided
adjacent to the weight pull device. The lat bar device will include
an overhead pulley for directing the tension element from the
weight pull device to a user-pulled lat bar.
In addition to the above combinations of exercise devices, the
invention also encompasses an improved exercising bench structure
having bent tubular legs and a laterally extending floor frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features of the invention are set out with particularity
in the appended claims, but the invention will be understood more
fully and clearly from the following detailed description of the
invention as set forth in the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the basic exercising bench
according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same showing the seat in an
inclined position and the use of the barbell curling
attachment;
FIG. 3 is a detail view of the adjustable seat supporting
mechanism;
FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the bench taken
along line 4--4 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bench being used in conjunction
with the leg lift device;
FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing certain details of the leg lift
device;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the slant board sit-up device
attached to the bench;
FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a portion of the slant board sit-up
device;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the combined bench and weight pull
device;
FIG. 10 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the weight
pull device;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the apparatus including the basic
bench, weight pull device and lat bar device; and
FIG. 12 is a detail view of the lat bar device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, most of the
structural elements of the invention are tubular steel members
which are secured together by bolted connections. Of course, other
types of members of various cross-section may be used, and they may
be secured together by other means, such as welding.
Referring particularly to FIG. 1, the apparatus according to the
invention includes as its basic element an exercising bench 100
comprising a pair of L-shaped side rails 102 and four bent tubular
legs 104 having vertical end portions 105 bolted to the ends of
side rails 102 and oblique portions 107 bolted to the intermediate
portions of side rails 102. The two legs 104 at each end of the
bench are interconnected by a stabilizing brace 106. A laterally
extending floor frame 110 is provided at the head end 111 of the
bench for added bench stability. Floor frame 110 comprises a
generally rectangular, substantially closed bent tubular member 112
which surrounds the legs 104 at the head end 111 of the bench. The
ends 114 of tubular member 112 are connected to its elongated
portion 116 by means of L-shaped braces 118. Legs 104 are bolted to
the vertical flanges of braces 118.
The bench also includes a fixed seat portion 120 at the foot end
121 of the bench, and an incline seat portion 122 at the head end
111. Each of these seat portions may comprise a vinyl-covered foam
cushion which is secured to a plywood base. Other materials may
also be used. The plywood base of fixed seat portion 120 is
provided with flanged tubular nuts (not shown) secured in
predrilled holes. The fixed seat portion is secured to side rails
102 by means of bolts received in these nuts. Fixed seat portion
120 serves to rigidly brace side rails 102 in their respective
positions. Incline seat portion 122 is supported on a pair of
L-shaped members 124 (see FIG. 11) which are pivoted adjacent to
fixed seat portion 122 to a pivot rod 126 which extends between
side rails 102.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 11, incline seat portion 122 is
adjustably supported on side rails 102 by means of notched struts
128 which are pivotally attached to members 124. Struts 128 have
C-shaped notches 130 which are adapted to lock onto a rod 132
secured in side rails 102. This arrangement permits incline seat
portion 122 to be positioned at discrete angles of inclination
between 0.degree. and approximately 45.degree..
Bench 100 is also provided with a barbell rest assembly for holding
a barbell B having weights W above the bench for use in bench
pressing type exercises. The barbell rest assembly comprises a pair
of barbell support tubes 140 bolted to tubular floor member 112 and
to side rails 102 by means of V-shaped spacer brackets 142.
Additional stability is provided by an X-brace 144 which
interconnects tubes 140 beneath the bench. A barbell cradle 146 is
attached to the top of each tube 140. Support tubes 140 are spaced
laterally outwardly from bench side rails 102 to provide a more
stable support for the barbell than would be afforded by more
closely spaced support tubes, and to provide additional room for
the user when lying on the bench. Bench pressing exercises may be
performed with the incline seat portion either horizontal or at any
desired angle of inclination.
Bench 100 may serve as a support for additional exercising devices.
To this end, the legs 104 at the foot end 121 of the bench are
provided with a pair of socket members 150. Referring to FIG. 4,
each socket member 150 comprises a U-shaped channel 152 which
flanks the vertical portion 105 of its respective leg and is bolted
thereto at 154. The upper portion of channel 152 is secured to leg
104 by means of a ring-attached shear pin 156 received in aligned
holes in channel 152 and leg 104. Additional spaced holes 158 are
provided in channel 152 and are adapted to be aligned with
similarly spaced holes in the frames of other exercising devices
inserted into the sockets 150 and secured thereto by means of
ring-attached shear pins 160.
One such auxiliary exercising device which may be attached to
socket members 150 is illustrated in FIG. 2. This device is an
upper arm-supporting barbell curling device which comprises a
cushioned board 162 secured to a bent, U-shaped tubular frame 164
(see FIG. 11) having depending, apertured legs 166 which are
adjustably secured in socket members 150. With this arrangement,
the user may select the proper height for performing the exercise
so that he may comfortably sit on fixed seat portion 120 in a
substantially erect position.
Another type of auxiliary exercising device which can be used in
conjunction with bench 100 is the leg lift device illustrated in
FIG. 5. This device comprises a pair of apertured tubular mounting
members 170 which are adjustably received in socket members 150. A
padded crossbar 172 is bolted across the tips of members 170. Any
suitable padding may be used, such as a vinyl-wrapped polyurethane
foam. A padded weight bar 174 is pivotally suspended from crossbar
172 by means of two struts 176 having tubular collars 178 at their
upper ends. The user may clamp the desired number of weights W to
weight bar 174, place the back side of his knee on crossbar 172 and
his leg beneath the padded portion of weight bar 174, and proceed
to lift his leg against the weights supported on weight bar 174.
The height adjustment in socket members 150 permits the user to
adjust the leg lift device to a comfortable position.
Another auxiliary exercising device which may be used in
conjunction with bench 100 is the slant board sit-up device
illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. This device comprises a pair of
tubular side rails 180 which support a padded slant board 182.
Slant board 182 has a plywood base which carries flanged tubular
nuts and is bolted to side rails 180 in the manner of fixed seat
portion 120 of bench 100. A raised knee support comprising a padded
crossbar 184 is secured to the upper ends of two L-shaped tubular
braces 186. Braces 186 are bolted to side rails 180 and support a
padded ankle-engaging strap 188. The upper ends of side rails 180
are apertured and are attached to the foot end 121 of bench 100 by
means of ring-attached shear pins 156.
The above-described auxiliary exercising devices are of the type
which may be quickly and easily attached to the bench as desired.
The bench is also adapted to serve as a main support for
additional, more permanently secured exercising devices. One such
device is the weight pull device 200 illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.
This device comprises a pair of upstanding parallel tubular guides
202 having curved bottom ends 204 which extend longitudinally of
the bench 100 and are attached to tubular member 112 of floor frame
110. The upper ends of guides 202 are interconnected by means of a
tubular top crosspiece 206 having laterally projecting and
forwardly curved tips 208. The upper portions of guides 202 are
rigidly braced against movement by means of oblique braces 210
which are connected to the upper portions of barbell support tubes
140. Top crosspiece 206 supports a pair of central pulleys 212 and
a pair of outer pulleys 214 adjacent its ends.
Guides 202 constrain the movement of a liftable weight support 220
(see FIG. 10) which comprises a generally U-shaped tubular cradle
222 having a central upstanding weight rod 224 welded thereto. The
legs of cradle 222 are connected to U-shaped channel members 226
which flank guides 202 to prevent lateral movement of the weight
support. An eye 228 is provided at the top of weight rod 224 for
the attachment of a pair of ropes 230. Each rope 230 is trained
over one central pulley 212 and one outer pulley 214 and is
connected to a handle 232. Because the tips 208 of crosspiece 206
are curved forwardly, the straight-line paths of the ropes 230
between central pulleys 212 and outer pulleys 214 are unobstructed
by guides 202.
In use, the user adjusts the inclination of incline seat portion
122 to form a suitable back support. He then grasps handles 232 and
pulls in the desired directions in order to lift the weights W
carried by weight support 220. The weight pull device may also be
used to perform leg exercises by inserting a foot into one of the
handles 232 and leaving the other handle and rope idle. When not in
use, handles 232 may be conveniently supported on barbell rest
cradles 146.
The weight pull device may also be used to perform stading weight
pull exercises from the left end of the assembly illustrated in
FIG. 9. In this regard, the ropes 230 would be removed from outer
pullegs 214 and be pulled over central pullegs 212 by a user
standing to the left of the assembly.
In conjunction with bench 100 and weight pull device 200, a lat bar
exercising device may also be attached to the apparatus. Lat bar
device 300 is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. This device comprises
a pair of laterally spaced upright posts 302 which are
interconnected at their top ends by an overhead bar 304. The bottom
ends of posts 302 are interconnected by a tubular stabilizer bar
306 having a generally straight bottom portion 308 which extends
laterally outwardly past the posts, and is bent upwardly into
inwardly converging legs 310 which are connected to posts 302
intermediate their height. This assembly is connected to tubular
member 112 of the bench floor frame 110 by means of floor braces
312. The upper ends of posts 302 are secured to member 112 of floor
frame 110 by means of oblique tubular struts 314.
Overhead bar 304 supports an eye 320 and a double pulley 322. In
converting from the weight pull mode to the lat bar mode, ropes 302
are removed from the outer pulleys 214 of weight pull device 200
and are trained over double pulley 322 and connected to the center
of a lat bar 324. Lat bar 324 has hand grip portions 326 at its
ends and is grasped and pulled by the user in a seated or other
position to raise weight support 220.
Lat bar device 300 may also function as a squat rack for holding a
barbell in an elevated position. In this regard, posts 302 are
provided with barbell cradles 330 which are bolted to posts 302
through aligned holes 303. Several sets of vertically spaced
aligned holes 303 are provided for adjustment of the height of
cradles 330. Squatting exercises may then be performed by removing
the barbell from cradles 330 and holding it behind the head and
across the shoulders. Overhead bar 304 can also be used as a
chinning bar.
It can be seen that the exercising apparatus of the invention
successfully accomplishes its objectives by virtue of its
simplicity, rigidity and versatility. It is capable of many varied
uses for exercising substantially all portions of the body. It is
estimated that at least 150 different exercises can be performed
using this exercising apparatus. From the standpoint of
affordability, the user with limited funds may begin by purchasing
the basic bench and a barbell set with weights. The weight lift
device may be added separately, as may the curling device, the leg
lift device and the slant board sit-up device. The lat bar device
may be added separately after the weight lift device has been
attached.
It will be obvious to one of ordinary skill that numerous
modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit
and scope of the invention which is to be limited only by the
appended claims.
* * * * *